Purpose
Principles of regenerative agriculture are rooted in ecological health and biological healing. Our task is to now farm on years and years of soil degradation, erosion, water loss, toxicity, and not to be forgotten- abuse of farm workers and fossil fuels. Regenerative agriculture (though there is no one definition) is rooted in shifting the current paradigm to a thriving, climate-adapted, biodiverse agro-ecological system that empowers our communities to be the stewards of our land.
Agroforestry: Nuts Grown in the Northeast
Food sources that are climate resilient, build robust habitat, and provide a nutrient dense food source for our communities- sounds great right? WMRFS is organizing to align:
- Robust tree & plant genetics
- Collaborative knowledge & growing practices
- Infrastructure for processing and distributing
- A ready market & equal access
- Informed eaters & delicious recipes!
Western MA growers: Big River Chestnuts, Yellowbud Farm, Nutwood Farm
Waste as food: Cyclical production
It is to be noted: these practices are in no way “new”, but are thousands of years old and still practiced by many throughout the world. It is our responsibility to adopt them with respect, humility and a sense of deep inquiry to limit not only unforeseen externalities but also end abuse and capital gain of traditional knowledge, culture, and resource flow.
For more exploring this philosophy, local Leda M Cooks discusses Bodies, spaces and places for food waste and waste
Using biologically rich and nutrient dense materials from composting, bio-digestion, manure, and other “waste” products, we can replenish our soils and limit pollution and nutrient loading.
Regenerative farming also embraces biomimicry, and builds on the wisdom of our local ecosystems to produce plentiful and nutritious foods.
For more on regenerative growing techniques, check out our Resources page.
Ah! The harvest. To make our harvesting techniques more regenerative, consider:
- What do farmers prioritize? Think “ugly” produce, buffer crops, or filling orders and working within market demand
- Who has access to these thousands of pounds of harvested foods?
- Cost of labor versus returns in revenue
- Gleaning can serve as a piece of the puzzle. For example, the Boston Area Gleaners were able to distribute 8 million pounds of food in 2020, supporting agencies such as Food for Free and the Greater Boston Food Bank with fresh local food). Rachel’s Table of Springfield MA is also an amazing local partner in diverting wasted foods in the fields into the bellies of our people.
- Can we, long term, depend on free, volunteer labor to support thousands of citizens? Are there other structures of food growing and harvesting that can inspire generative economies and sovereignty?
Eating is our key to livelihood, and inspires culture, tradition, connection with our Earth and each other. Can we continue this foundational practice in a regenerative (versus extractive) manner?
- Ensuring equal distribution requires attention from dozens of entities and value streams. As we continue to solve systemic gaps and bottlenecks, Food sovereignty is a goal to have in mind and heart. A great thanks to all of those in Western MA who are helping to feed our communities
- All around the world, and especially the Northeast, food preservation extends our local seasons, promotes economic viability, feeds our families, and keeps the flavors rolling. Organizations such as the FCCDC are critical to preserving our local food economy. And how about the Cottage Food Bill? Think: sauces, jams, dried fruits & smoked meats, juices, krauts, pickles and more!
- Preserving foods adds value to our harvest. Collectivizing this action supports our communities and local economies.
Yum! What a meal. But now what do I do with these skins, butts, leaves, stems, stalks, cores, and that shriveled head of lettuce in my fridge?
- So many creatures LOVE our food scraps, and this goes back for thousands of years. Some examples of co-evolution and domestication include dogs, pigs, chickens, rabbits and more!
- By giving our “waste” products a second home, we can increase the yield of our harvests and make sure that all of that precious energy- and money- is best used every step pf the way!
- This needs and creates amazing networks of humans, increasing our collaboration and responding to the offerings and needs of our neighbors. Let’s get organized!
- Consider his academic piece on waste as food here
The leaves of the forest feed for next years growth, habitat for all sorts of creatures large and small, influences the soil chemistry and builds organic matter. Let’s not forget the urine, feces, corpses- they all have a home in the web of life. We each have a role in facilitating the transition of what’s left into the most generative form of itself (and therefor of us!)
- Composting initiatives
- Compost Cooperative, Greenfield MA
- Pedal People, Northampton MA
- Bio-digesters
- Small-scale biogas production
- Compost powered water heaters
- Human waste
- Massachusetts Solid Waste Master Plan